Click to play videoNew Delhi: Britain has called Russia's decision to throw out four of its diplomats completely unjustified and disappointing.
On Monday, England expelled four Russian diplomats after Russia refused to extradite a suspected spy killer, former spy Andrei Lugovoy.
Lugovoy is accused of poisoning another former spy, Alexander Litvenienko.
British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband says despite the chilled relations, he is heartened by support from the international community.
"We are disappointed that the Russian government should have signaled no new corporation in the case of the extradition of Andre Lugovoy for the alleged murder of Alexander Litivenienko," he said.
"We believe, the decision to expel four embassy staff is completely unjustified and we will be doing everything to ensure that they and their families are properly looked after," he added.
London wants Moscow to extradite Andrei Lugovoi.
British prosecutors have charged former KGB bodyguard, Andrei Lugovoy, with killing Litvinenko by spiking his tea with lethal radioactive polonium in a London hotel. Lugovoy denies the allegations.
Russia has also decided not issue any visas to British citizens. It would also suspend dialogue on counter-terrorism measures.
Relations between the two former Cold War foes have chilled to the frostiest level since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the wake of Moscow's refusal to extradite Lugovoy, the latest in a series of irritants in bilateral relations.
Russia and Britain are no strangers to tit-for-tat expulsions, which were common in Cold War days, but they were generally over spying cases. The last time diplomats were expelled was in 1996.
(With inputs from agencies)
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